£1m payout for Hatfield crash victim's family

The widow and two children of an executive jet pilot killed in the Hatfield rail crash have been awarded £1 million damages under a settlement approved in the High Court.

Stephan Arthur, 46, was among four passengers who died when a GNER Kings Cross to Leeds express was derailed by a broken track on October 17, 2000. Thirty-four people were injured.

His widow Lindsay, of West Sussex, was in court in London to hear Mr Justice Richards sanction the £1 million payout by Railtrack, which admitted liability.

Stephen Irwin QC, for Mrs Arthur, described her husband as "a man of great energy, determination and talent - very resourceful and successful".

The judge, who expressed sympathy for Mrs Arthur and the children, said he was satisfied she had been properly advised to accept the sum offered by Railtrack rather than push for a higher figure in a contested hearing and run the risk of a lesser award.